Donohue Pass

Donohue Pass cycling climb profile

Donohue Pass is a long, high, category 2 climb in the US: 13.4 km from start to summit, gaining 726 m net from 2206 m to 2932 m. The average gradient is 5.4%, which makes the climb look manageable on paper, but the maximum gradient of 15.84% changes how it should be ridden.

The key detail is the relationship between net elevation gain and total ascent. The climb gains 726 m net and records 729 m of total ascent, so the profile is effectively all uphill. There is almost no elevation given back along the way. That matters tactically because there are unlikely to be meaningful downhill recoveries built into the numbers. Once the road starts rising, the effort needs to be treated as continuous.

How the gradient unfolds

The context does not provide kilometer-by-kilometer gradient splits, so the safest reading is not to invent a sequence of ramps. What the supplied stats do show is a climb with a moderate average and at least one very steep pitch. A 5.4% average over 13.4 km means much of the climbing can be ridden rhythmically, but the 15.84% maximum means the profile is not purely steady-state.

That combination usually rewards patience. If the early slope feels comfortable, that is not a signal to press. It is the reason to stay controlled. The steepest sections will demand more torque and a higher cost per meter, and because the climb finishes at 2932 m, efforts above threshold become harder to clear as the summit gets closer.

Pacing and gearing

Ride this as a sustained aerobic climb, not as a series of attacks. The average gradient allows a smooth tempo if the gear is light enough, but the maximum gradient makes overgearing the main mistake. A wide-range climbing setup is the safer choice, especially for riders who want to stay seated and keep cadence from collapsing on the steepest pitch.

For pacing, anchor the opening around controlled endurance to tempo, then let the gradient decide when power rises rather than forcing it. If using /glossary/ftp as a reference, the goal is to avoid repeated surges above sustainable effort before the hardest ramps. The climb is long enough for early excess to compound, and high enough that breathing and recovery become part of the limiting system.

Rider takeaway

Donohue Pass is not defined by a brutal average gradient. It is defined by duration, altitude, and the contrast between a steady overall profile and a very steep maximum. The best ride is measured at the bottom, flexible through the ramps, and still composed near the summit.